Method of producing calcium hydrid.



I which is exceedingy well suited for aer al Germany,

PAUL ASKENASY AND LORENZ STOOKEM,

s irrns a rn enrich.

OF NUREMBERG, GERMANY, AS-

SIGNORS TO ELEKTROOHEMISCHE WERKE, GESELLS M. B. H

015 BERLIN, GERMANY, A CORPORATION OF GERMAN METHOD OF PBODUClNG CALCIUMHYDli lD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

Application filed May 1'7, 190$. $erial No. 317,402.

To all whom it may concern:.

Be it known that we, PAUL ASKENASY and LORENZ STOOKEM, subjects of theEmperor of residing at Nuremberg, Germany, have invented anew and usefulMethod of Producing Calcium Hydrid, of which the following is aspecification.

temperature (QR. 1-26, 1753, 1758) Moissan- (C. 11.127, 29) as welLas A.Guntz and H. Bassey (C, It. 1 10, 863-864) said that hydrid of calciumcould best be produced by heating finely dividedmalcium in an atmosphereof hydrogen. The latter ev'encall attention to that the technicalcalcium is unsuited for the production of hydrid of calcium, as it istoo com'pact. We have convinced ourselves of the correctness of these satements and also found that with a bright cherry-red, below the?melting-point of the calcium, which is at about 809 0., pieces ofcalciumove'r only on the surface into hydrid, whereas the metal in theinterior remained unaffected. For producing lar e quantities of hyd'rid,

navigation, applicable, as 'they are exceedingly trouble; some andcostly, which can also be seen from a remark by H.Moissan (O. R. 127, 29and 30) who explicitly prescribes that of ure crystallized calcium only5-6 gr. shoul be converted at a time into hydrid, in a metal boat ifmore hydrid is to be produced, several etal passed these methods are,therefore, not

boats should be provided, and arranged in a row.

The inventors have now found that hydrid can easily be obtained in largequantities, coming nearly up to the theoretical result, if calcium ismelted preferably in iron vessels and hydrogen is conducted into themolten metal. Itis'then very eagerly absorbed, so

that even a vacuum is produced on cutting oii the hydrogen. The wholemass which originally consists of a mixture of metal and hydrid is keptin a liquid state during the reaction. The same rapid manner until allthe metal has been changed into hydrid. Thus, for mstance, the inventorssucceeded in this way to convert 1 kilo of calcium-metal within 5minutes into hydlid. in this way in form of solid lumps from the steelcrucible, which served as a reaction-vessel, contained 84% CaH,. Thecompound is,as is well known, exothermic, so that, after v the reactionhas begun, only a small supply of'e'xternal heat is required.Smallquantities of air'or dampness in the hydrogen are not detrimental.v 1 What we claim as our invention and desire to secure by United StatesLetters'Patent is ducing hydrid of calciumby a direct combination ofhydrogen withcalcium, consistingin conducting hydrogen into moltencalcium, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. In testimonywhereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

' PAUL ASKENASY. LORENZ STOOKEM. Witnesses: 3

MAX HAMBUBGER, JU IUS RUMLAND.

letter then takes place in the 1 The hydrid taken out The hereinbeforedescribed method of pro-

